Chair with moving seat and mirror



1957 1.. G. SIMJIAN I 2,81

CHAIR wrm MOVING SEAT ANDIMIRROR Filed Sept. 18, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. LUTHER G. SIMJIAN ATTORNEY.

Oct. 29, 1957 1.. e. SlMJlAN CHAIR WITH MOVI NG SEAT AND MIRROR 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 18, 1953 INVENTOR. LUTHER G. SI MJIAN llxxATTORNEY.

Oct. 29, 1957 L. G. SIMJIAN 2,811,083

0mm WITH MOVING SEAT AND MIRROR Filed Sept. 18, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3FIG. 8

INVENTOR. LUTHER G. SIMJIAN ATTORNEY ventional boudoir chair.

United States Patent CHAIR WITH MOVING SEAT AND MIRROR ApplicationSeptember 18, 1953, Serial No. 380,921

13 Claims. (Cl. 88-92) This invention relates to chairs, and moreparticularly to a chair of the type set forth in my Patent 2,510,351granted me on June 6, 1950.

In the chair disclosed in my patent, a chair seat is mounted forrotation relatively to a chair base on a predetermined axis. Mountedalso for rotation relatively to the chair base, but on an axis offsetfrom the axis of rotation of the chair seat, is a mirror. Means areprovided between the chair seat and the mirror so that as the seatrotates, the mirror is rotated, the relative rotation of the two beingso arranged that the mirror will be in a position to reflect properlythe image of anyone seated on the chair.

While the chair forming the invention of this patent, and certainearlier patents granted me, has achieved considerable commercial successbecause of the very considerable contribution made thereby, there havebeen certain drawbacks because of the visual appearance presented by thechair. I have now conceived a chair having all the functions of that ofmy Patent 2,510,351, and yet presenting to the casual viewer theappearance of a con- In addition, the chair forming my new concept to becovered in this application is capable of functioning as a conventionalchair, as well as presenting the appearance of a conventional chair.

As a particular feature of my invention I provide my chair with a chairbase that may be substantially similar to that shown in my Patent2,510,351, but arranged for the mounting of the mirror on a back formedfor the chair, this back being rotatable through rotation of the seat.As a further feature of the invention, I provide means for locking theseat and the chair back carrying the mirror, against rotation relativelyto'the chair base and one another, preferably when the mirror is out ofviewing position. As a further detailed feature of this part of theinvention, the mirror is actually mounted within an internal compartmentformed in the back of the chair, this compartment being adapted to beopened so that the mirror may be moved into a position above the back ofthe chair.

It is a'further detailed feature of the invention that the locking meansfor locking the chair seat, and preferably the back also relatively tothe chair base, are actuated and controlled by the movement of themirror. Thus, when the mirror is within the 'compartmentof the chairback, the seat and back are locked against rotation, while when themirror is placed in a position above the chair back, as in my earlierpatent referred to above, the seat is free for rotation and its rotationwill effect movement of the mirror in substantially the same manner asin my patent. As an additional feature of my invention, the mirror inone modification is counterbalanced for ready movement into and out ofthe internal compartment of the chair back. In a second modification themirror is pivotally mounted for movement relatively to the chair back,and in this modification the control of the locking means by the mirroris exercised through the medium of a Bowden wire actuated by the mirroras it moves relatively to the chair back.

r, 2,811,083 Patented Oct. 29, 1957 ICC A still further feature of theinvention resides in the construction of the locking means, this meansbeing arranged to operate automatically when the mirror is lowered andwhen the chair seat and chair back are moved into predeterminedalignment.

I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of myinvention in order that the detailed description thereof that followsmay be better understood, and in order that my contribution to the artmay be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features ofmy invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form thesubject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based mayreadily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures forcarrying out the several purposes of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the chair of my invention with the mirrorshown contained within the compartment formed in the chair back.

Fig. 2 is a view of the rear of the back of the chair of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the upper part of the chair of Fig. l with themirror raised to its upper viewing position.

Fig. 4 is a view of the upper part of the chair shown in Fig. l with thecovering panel of the back removed.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of Fig. 6 illustratingthe construction of the back of the chair, as well as the mounting ofthe seat and the means whereby the rotation of the seat effects rotationof the back of the chair.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the operating parts of the chair.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a view of a modification of my invention in which the mirrorpivots into a depression formed in the chair.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 with the mirror swung upwardly intoviewing position. I

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the modfication of Fig. 9 showing themeans whereby the mirror effects the locking of the chair seat and thechair back relatively to the chair base.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and especially Figs. 1,5 and 6, reference numeral 10 indicates the chair base of my inventionsupported by a series of legs 11, the legs to be secured to the base inany conventional way or as shown in my earlier patent. Base 10 has abearing 12 in which rotates the pin 13 carrying a plate 14 supporting anupholstered seat 15. It is obvious that the seat 15 will rotate freelyrelatively to the base 10 unless held against rotation by means to behereinafter set forth.

Base 10 has a further bearing 16 in which is mounted for rotation a pin17. Mounted for rotation on the axis of the pin 17 is a frame member 18forming the back and mirror support of my invention. Frame member 18 hasbolted thereto a bracket 19 extending upwardly to a point above theupper surface of the base 10. Rollers 20 are carried by the bracket 19,these rollers restingon the upper surface of the base 10 to support heframe member 18 for rotation relatively to the base 10 on the pivotshaft 17.

Suitably secured to the frame member 18 is a camming member 21, bestshown in Figs. 5 and 6, this camming member being cooperable with acamming pin 22 exending downwardly from the plate 14 forming the supportfor the upholstered seat 15. It is quite obvious that as the seatrotates about the axis of pin 13, camming pin 22 will contact thevertical sides of the cam 21 to rotate the frame member 18 about thepivot shaft 17. The structure so far set forth is very similar to thatdescribed in my earlier patent to which I have alluded.

Referring now to Fig. 7 I show a latchbolt 26 that is adapted to lockthe frame 18 to the base 16. For this purpose the latchbolt 26 slides inguide bores 27 and 28 formed in the bracket 19 and is adapted to enteran opening 29 in a camming strike 30 carried by the base 10 when theopening 29 is positioned opposite the latchbolt 26.

Latchbolt 26 is pressed by a spring 31 relatively to an L-shaped slidemember 32, this L-shaped slide member 32 being mounted through pins 33for sliding movement on the frame member 18. A spring 34 normally tendsto hold the L-shaped member 32 in a position to the left of thatposition illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7, and in that position thelatchbolt 26 will naturally be out of the bore 29 of the strike 30. Onthe left end of the L-shaped member 32 there is a camming lip 35, andthis camming lip is shown contacted by a camming lug 36 in Figs. 5 and7. When the camming lug 36 strikes the camming lip the L-shaped member32 is forced into its position of Figs. 5 and 7, carrying with it thelatchbolt 26. If, in the particular position of the L-shaped member 32the latchbolt 26 does not encounter the opening 29 in the strike 30, the

' latchbol will be depressed agains the pressure of spring 31 inreadiness to move into the opening 29 when that opening moves intoalignment with the latchbolt 26, all as will be clearly apparent.

I shall now describe the manner in which the camniing lug 36 is actuatedfor controlling the operation of the latchbolt 26. Camming lug 36, asbest seen in Fig. 4, is secured to a pair of rods 49 through a plate 41,these rods being in turn secured through clips 42, best shown in Fig. 5,to the back 43 of a mirror 45. Rodsll are suitably supported on hearingrings 50 (Fig. 3) for sliding relatively to a panel 44 forming part ofthe back of the chair, this panel being itself secured to an extension18a forming an integral part of the frame 18. The panel 44 is formedwith a depression that coacts with a depression in a cover panel 46, toform an internal compartment within which is housed the mirror 45. Panel46 is pivoted to panel 44 through hinges 47 best shown in Fig. 4, andthe two panels are normally in their closed position illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2 with the mirror resting in this internal compartmentformed between the panels. It will be appreciated that in thisrelationship of the parts, the mirror is completely enclosed within theback of the chair and cannot be seen, so that the chair presents theusual appearance of a conventional chair, all as clearly shown in Fig.1.

For maintaining the panel 46 securely against the panel 44, I utilize aspring 48 best illustrated in Fig. 5, it being obvious that the panel 46may be moved to its open position of Fig. 5 against the pressure of thespring 48 whenever it is desired to do so. This opening movement may belimited by suitable means. Upon this movement of the panel 46 to openposition, a handle 49, forming an extension of the rods 40, may bereadily manipulated so as to move the rods from the position of Figs. 1,2 and 5 to the position of Fig. 3, the rods for this movement beingsuitably guided by the guide rings 50 carried on the rear panel 44 ofthe chair back. If desired other means may be employed to mount the rods40 for simple sliding motion.

Because the mirror 45 is relatively heavy, its weight and the weight ofthe rods may be counterbalanced by the use of a metal strap 55, bestshown in Fig. 4. This metal strap is secured at 56 to one of the rods 49and extends upwardly to a spring reel 57 maintained on the back panel 44of the chair. The spring reel 57 is maintained stressed when themirror45 is in its position of Fig. 4, thereby enabling the spring of the reelto assist, through its wind- 4 ing action, the upward movement of themirror to the viewing position of Fig.- 3. Preferably, the forward panel46 has a foam rubber pad 58 applied thereto as shown in Fig. 5 so thatwhen the spring 48 moves the panel 46 to its closed position of Fig. 3after the mirror 45 has been moved upwardly, the foam rubber pad 58 willhelp hold the mirror in its viewing position of Fig. 3. It will beappreciated further that when the mirror is in its lower position, thehandle 49 will be exposed as shown in Fig. 2 but that this exposure willbe at the back of the chair and will not affect greatly the appearanceof the chair.

Reviewing now the operation of the parts, let us consider that the chairis in its condition of Fig. l. The carnming lug 36 will, therefore, bein the position of Fig. 4, and against the carnming lip 35 as shown inFigs. 5 and '7. This maintains the L-shaped member 32 in its position ofFigs. 5 and 7 stressing the spring 34 and maintaining the latchbolt 26in the opening 29 of the strike 30. This means that the back of thechair, formed by the coaction of the panels 44 and 46, and assembled tothe part 18a forming a continuation of the frame 18, is locked to thebase 10 against rotation relatively to that base. Therefore, theupholstered chair seat 15 will also be locked against rotationrelatively to the base 10 because the pin 22 depending downwardly fromthe plate 14 is within the cam 21, and cannot move without moving thecam 21. Naturally, since cam 21 cannot move because it is fixed to frame18, the upholstered seat 15 will not rotate on the axis of the shaft 13.

Let us consider that the forward panel 46 is now moved to the dash anddotted position of Fig. 5. This allows vertical movement of the mirror45 with the rods 40 to the upper position of Fig. 3. This movement willbring the camming lug 36 away from its position of Figs. 4, 5 and 7.Immediately the spring 34 will pull the L shaped member 32 to the leftfrom its position of Figs. 5 and 7 carrying the latchbolt 26 out of theopening 29 of the strike 30. It is obvious that the seat of my chairwill now be free to rotate. It will also be free to rotate in acomplementary manner, the frame 18 and the chair back carried by thesaid frame through pin 22 and cam 21. The upward movement of the mirrorwill be effected through the handle 49 with the assistance of thecounterbalancing reel 57 and strap 55. With the mirror in its upperviewing position of Fig. 3, it will be held yieldingly in that position,not only by the reel 57, but by the pads 58 through the pressure of thespring 48 holding the forward panel 46 of the back of my chair againstthe rear panel 44.

Should it now be decided to use the chair in a conventional manner theforward panel 46 will be moved outwardly again to its position of Fig. 5and the mirror will be moved downwardly to its position of Figs. 4 and 5bringing the cam lug 36 against the cam lip 35 of the L shaped member32. This will react against the spring 34 in a manner tending to forcethe latchbolt 26 out wardly. If the latchbolt is not in alignment withthe bore 29 of the strike 30, the spring 31 will be compressed until theseat rotates to bring the bolt 26 into alignment with the strike 30through rotation of the frame 18. At that time the latchbolt 26 willenter the bore 29 of the strike and the parts will be securely looked asis well illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7.

In the modification of Figs. 8 to 10, the mirror is designated byreference numeral 75 and is pivoted at 76 to the rear panel 77 of theback of my chair. When the mirror is in its position of Fig. 8, the backthereof designated by reference numeral 78, will be exposed and thisback may be upholstered to match the front panel 79 of the back of mychair. Whenever desired, the mirror may be moved from its position ofFig. 8 to the position of Fig. 9 exposing its mirrored surface to theviewer for use. During such movement the end 80 of a Bowden wire will bereleased for movement outwardly under the influence of a spring 81secured at 82 to the other end of the Bowden wire. This spring 81 notonly moves the Bowden wire but also moves a bracket 32a that is exactlythe same in function as the bracket 32 of the first modification.

It is, therefore, readily seen that when the mirror of the modificationof Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive is moved in the direction of the arrow 85 inFig. 10 from the position of Fig. 8 to the position of Fig. 9, spring 81will, through the member 32a, effect the retraction of a latchbolt 26ain the same manner that the movement of the mirror in the firstmodification to viewing position eflects the retraction of the latchbolt26.. When the mirror is moved from the position of Fig. 9 back to theposition of Fig. 10, it will operate against the end 80 of the Bowdenwire to move the Bowden wire against the force of spring 81 forcing themember 32a to effect the latching again of the bolt 26a in the samemanner that the movement of the member 32 in Figs. and 7 by cam lug 36effects the latching again of the latchbolt 26. Thus, in Figs. 8 to 10 Ihave substituted the utilization of a Bowden wire in the controlmechanism, together with a different mirror mounting means, foreffecting the locking and unlocking of the seat and back of the chair inthe same general manner as set forth in my first modification.

I new claim:

1. In a combination of the class described, a chair base, a chair seatrotatable on said base, a chair back, means mounting said chair back forrotation on said base, a mirror, means mounting said mirror on saidchair back for movement relatively to said chair back, locking means forlocking said chair back to said chair base to hold said chair backagainst rotation relatively to said chair base, and means actuated bymovement of said mirror on its mounting means relatively to said chairback for moving said locking means between locking and unlockingpositions.

2. In a combination of the class described, a chair base, a chair seatrotatable on said base, a chair back, means mounting said chair back forrotation relatively to said base, a mirror, means mounting said mirroron said chair back for movement relatively thereto between a non-Viewing positionand a viewing position, locking means for locking andunlocking said chair back relatively to said chair base, and meansactuated throughthe movement of said mirror 'on'its' mounting meansrelatively to said chair back tono'n-viewing position for effecting theoperation of's'aid locking means to lock said chair back to said chairbase, said means moving said locking means to release said chair backfor movement relatively to said chair base when said mirror is moved toviewing position.

3. In a combination of the class described, a chair base, a chair seatrotatable on said base, a back for said chair also rotatable on saidbase, a mirror, means mounting said mirror on said back for movementrelatively thereto from a non-viewing position to a viewing position,locking means for locking said chair back against movement relatively tosaid chair base, and means whereby the movement of said mirrorrelatively to said back effects movement of said locking means to lockand unlock said chair back relatively to said chair base.

4. In a combination of the class described, a chair base, a chair seatrotatable on said base, a chair back, means mounting said chair back forrotation on said base, a mirror, means mounting said mirror on saidchair back for movement between a lower non-viewing position and anupper viewing position, locking means for said chair seat and backmovable between a release position and a locking position in which saidlocking means lock said chair back and chair seat to said chair base,and means whereby the movement of said mirror on its mounting meansrelatively to said chair back actuates said locking means.

5. In a combination of the class described, a chair base, a chair seatrotatable on said base, a back for said chair, a mirror, means mountingsaid mirror on said back for movement relatively thereto from anon-viewing position to a viewing position, locking means for said chairseat and chair back movable relatively thereto between locking andunlocking positions, and means of connection between said mirror andsaid locking means whereby the movement of said mirror relatively tosaid back efiects the movement of said locking means between saidlocking and unlocking positions to lock and unlock said chair backrelatively to said chair base.

6. In a combination of the class described, a chair base, a chair seatrotatable on said base, a back for said chair also rotatable on saidbase, means whereby said seat rotates said back, a mirror, meansmounting said mirror on said back for movement relatively thereto from anonviewing position to a viewing position, locking means for said chairback movable between locking and unlocking positions, and means actuatedby movement of said mirror relatively to said back for effecting themovement of said locking means between said locking and unlockingpositions to lock and unlock said chair back relatively to said chairbase.

7. In a combination of the class described, relatively rotating partscomprising a chair base, a chair seat rotatable on said base on apredetermined axis, and a back for said chair rotatable on said base inanother axis, means whereby said seat imparts rotation to said back, amirror, means mounting said mirror on said back for movement relativelythereto from a non-viewing position to a viewing position, locking meansfor locking said chair seat and chair back to said chair base, saidlocking means being movable between locking and unlocking positions, andmeans actuated by movement of said mirror relatively to said chair backfor effecting the movement of said locking means between said lockingand unlocking positions to lock and unlock said chair back relatively tosaid chair base.

8. In a combination of the class described, a chair base, a chair seatrotatable on said chair base, a chair back, means mounting said chairback for rotation on said chair base on an axis spaced from the axis ofrotation of said chair seat, a mirror, means mounting said mirror onsaid chair back for movement from an upper viewing position to a lowernon-viewing position, means whereby rotation of said chair seat effectspredetermined rotation of said chair back, a latchbolt carried by saidmeans mounting said back for rotation, a strike on said base into whichsaid latchbolt projects to lock said chair back and chair seat againstrotation relatively to said base, and means whereby the movement of saidmirror to viewing position effects the retraction of said latchbolt torelease said seat and back for rotation while the movement of saidmirror to non-viewing position conditions said latchbolt to lock saidseat and back against relative rotation when said 7 strike and latchboltare aligned.

9. In a combination of the class described, relatively movable partscomprising a chair base, a chair seat rotatable on said chair base, achair back, and means mounting said chair back for rotation relativelyto. said chair base, a mirror, means mounting said mirror on said chairback for movement from a viewing position to a non-viewing positions,means whereby rotation of said chair seat effects rotation of said chairback, a latchbolt, a strike, means mounting said latchbolt and strike inopposed relation on two of said relatively movable parts so thatentrance of said latchbolt into said strike locks said chair back andseat against rotation relatively to said chair base, and means wherebythe movement of said mirror to viewing position effects the retractionof said latchbolt to release said back and seat for rotation while themovement of said mirror to non-viewing position conditions saidlatchbolt to lock said back and seat against rotation.

10. In a combination of the class described, relatively movable partscomprising a chair base, a chair seat rotatable on said chair base, achair back, and means mounting said chair back for rotation relativelyto said chair base,

position to efiect retraction of the said latchbolt out of said strike.

11. In a combination of the class described, a chair base, a chair seatrotatable on said chair base on a vertical axis, a chair back, said backhaving an internl compartment, a panel covering said internalcompartment, means mounting said chair back for rotation relatively tosaid chair base on an axis spaced from the axis of rotation of saidchair back and parallel thereto, a mirror, means mounting said mirror onsaid chair back within said internal compartment for movement from anupper viewing position out of said compartment to a lower non-viewingposition within said compartment, said panel covering said compartmentwhen said mirror is within said compartment and when said mirror is outof said compartment, means whereby rotation of said chair seat efiectsrotation of said chair back, a latchbolt, a strike into which saidlatchbolt projects, means mounting said latchbolt and strike in opposedrelation on two of said relatively rotatable elements whereby entranceof said latchbolt into said strike locks both said chair back and seatagainst rotation relatively to said base, and means whereby the movementof said mirror to viewing position effects the retraction of saidlatchbolt to release said seat and back for rotation while the movementof said mirror to nonviewing position conditions said latchbolt to locksaid seat and back against relative rotation when said strike andlatchbolt are aligned.

12. In a combination of the class described, a chair base, a chair seatrotatable on said chair base on a vertical axis, a chair back, said backhaving an internal compartment, a panel covering said internalcompartment, means mounting said chair back for rotation relatively tosaid chair base on an axis spaced from the axis of rotation of saidchair back and parallel thereto, a mirror, means mounting said mirror onsaid chair back within said internal compartment for movement from anupper viewing position out of said compartment to a lower non-viewingposition within said compartment, said panel covering said compartmentwhen said mirror iswithin said compartment and when said mirror is outof said compartment, means whereby rotation of said chair seat efiectsrotation of said chair back, a latchbolt, a strike into which saidlatchbolt projects, means mounting said latchbolt and strike in opposedrelation on two of said relatively rotatable elements whereby entranceof said latchbolt into said strike locks said chair back againstrotation relatively to said base, and means whereby the movement of saidmirror to viewing position effects the retraction of said latchbolt torelease said back for rotation while the movement of said mirror tonon-viewing position conditions said latchbolt to lock said back againstrotation when said strike and latchbolt are aligned.

13. In a combination of the class described, relatively movable partscomprising a chair base, a chair seat rotatable on said chair base on avertical axis, a chair back, and means mounting said chair back forrotation relatively to said chair base on an axis spaced from the axisof rotation of said chair back and parallel thereto, a mirror, meanspivotally mounting said mirror on said chair back for movement from anupper viewing position to a lower non-viewing position, means wherebyrotation of said chair seat effects rotation of said chair back, alatchbolt, a strike into which said latchbolt projects, means mountingsaid latchbolt and strike in opposed re lation on two of said relativelymovable parts so that entrance of said latchbolt into said strike lockssaid chair back against rotation relatively to said base, and a Bowdenwire actuated incidental to the movement of said mirror to viewingposition for effecting the retraction of said latchbolt to release saidback for rotation while the movement of said mirror to non-viewingposition conditions said latchbolt to lock said back against rotationwhen said strike and latchbolt are aligned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,671,631 Fox Mar. 9,

